The last couple of days I’ve heard several people question what they have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. And while I know times are very tough, and I really do feel for those folks. I would submit we all have something to be thankful for everyday. Candidly, it makes me sad to hear people ask why they should be thankful. Thanksgiving isn’t a one day event, its an expression of thanks that shouldn’t be reserved but shared freely.
I’m reminded of these two beautiful girls Faith 5 and her sister Ruth 3 that I met in a tiny village in Ngaamba, Kenya ,when I worked in their village for a week last summer. These girls walked over one and a half miles to attend preschool by themselves everyday and without adult supervision. The shoes they were wearing didn’t fit and were coming a part at the seams. On the days I was there, they didn’t have food for lunch everyday, and I later learned there were days that they went without food all together. Yet every single morning they arrived at school with a joyful heart and arms wide open. I spent long days with them and I never heard a complaint and the only request I ever received from them was to hold them close.
The amazing thing is that Faith and Ruth were not the exception – the entire village was incredibly happy and thankful. I was there to work in the preschool and on a water project, You see their village had no running water. And they are in serious drought. The crops were dying or already dead. There’s no easy way to say this – these people were hungry and thirsty and to see the toll that puts on a person is really difficult. The homes in this village are very simple structures that are made from bricks that comprise mud and straw and there’s no electricity anywhere. Every single day the people in this community showed up (men, women and children – young and old) ready to work hard – many of them hungry, thirsty, no shoes, no tools – yet happy and willing to share whatever they had with us. As they worked alongside us ,they worked just as hard, if not harder than we did. And on my last day there – when we turned on the water and it started flowing to the community water spot it was one of the most incredible moments I’ve ever experienced…the kind you want to savor. My entire time in Ngaamba I never heard a complaint, a cross word or even a criticism. This is a community of very happy, thankful people, despite the fact that there are no cars, no computers, no ipods and the list goes on. What they do have is community and each other and that seems to be enough.
After our time in Ngaamba, we headed to Amboseli and I had the fortunate opportunity to visit a Maasai village. The
Maasai are interesting people and even more primitive than the friends we made in Ngaamba. Life is even tougher for them yet they still have a deep sense of joy about them. Their community means everything to them and together they work through the challenges and celebrate the victories.
So what’s my point? All of these people are happy and thankful for what they have, they were not complaining about what they didn’t have. They are focused on helping each other and working together to improve the community. Many of the things we take for granted, they have never seen and probably won’t in their lifetime. If you’re reading this that means you have access to the internet – yet another item many of them will never see. YOU have the power to change our outlook. Instead of waiting for someone else to change things why not start the process yourself? Why not look around your community whether it be your physical community or online community and see what you can do to help out? One thing I know for sure, once you start giving your outlook will change and you might be surprised at how thankful you begin to feel.
Last week at the Web 2.0 Open, I heard Julien Smith speak, he’s co-author of Trust Agents, and I loved his talk. He spoke passionately – one of the things he said was ” facilitate the exchange of social capital,” Simple words yet a powerful message – are you facilitating the exchange of social capital? He ended his presentation with a challenge and I’m going to extend it to you – “Be the person who will go for it and helps others!” Let’s stop focusing on what we don’t have and focus on what we do have and where we can help others. Can we do that? Will you share your stories with me?
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Great post, Robyn. You’re so right and I will definitely keep you posted on what we’re doing. Also, we owe you some artwork/letters for the troops. Will get that to you guys soon. Happy Thanksgiving!
We have become victims of our own success. As we acquire more and more stuff a strange thing happens. The bar begins to move. What was once a “nice to have” or a privilege somehow begins to become an expectation or entitlement. Once this line has been crossed, we move from being grateful for what we have to bitter for what we don’t.
I traveled around the world, (literally) when I was 25. It allowed me to appreciate not only what we have here in the US, but most importantly that we have the opportunity to control our own destiny. This opportunity to make our own life is the greatest gift we’ve been given.
To lose sight of that is a kin to giving up, because regardless of what you have or don’t have you will always see yourself as a victim and that helps no one.
Robyn, it is nice to meet you and thanks for the reminder. We have it damn good . . . and if we don’t we can do something about it.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Timely post for Thanksgiving. You are absolutely right. It seems that the more we have, the less thankful we are for the things we have. I for one am extremely thankful for my health. Good health allows me to contribute to the things that are important to me: friends, family and meaningful work.
I just now found your blog via Chris Brogan pointing out this post. What a nice thing to find/read today! Seems that many I know already stop in here, I will be doing the same from now on. Have a great Thanksgiving Robyn!
Robyn, This resonates so powerfully with me, and I’m so grateful for your sharing it. During a year which has been extremely difficult in many ways, I have learned how important it is to be grateful for the incredible bounty I have – it’s interesting how adversity has brought it home in a more poignant way. I so appreciate YOU – and what you have shared here!
Jim
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. In my travels around the world, it really has opened my eyes to how precious the simplest of things can be. You are so right: the opportunity to make our own life is an incredible gift! Often I say you are the author of your own story… what are you writing and what story do you want to tell?
It’s great to meet you as well, thanks so much for stopping by.
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving as well.
Thanks so much Jacqui. You are so right about good health…I’m thankful for that as well. I know first hand that the work you do is extremely meaningful. And as someone who’s been on the receiving end of good counsel from you…I’m very grateful for that as well.
Thank you so much, and thank you again for including me in your blog yesterday.
Beth
Thank you so much for your comments. Choosing to see the goodness in tough times can be a tough but powerful lesson. You have an amazing outlook on things keep sharing it because it’s contagious.
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